Brick by brick
Phalke films. Bricklaying. 1922
The props assist the House
Until the House is built
And then the Props withdraw
And adequate, erect,
The House supports itself
And cease to recollect
The Auger and the Carpenter-
just such a retrospect
Hath the perfected Life-
A past of Plank and Nail
and slowness- then the Scaffolds drop
Affirming it a Soul
Emily Dickinson, 1142
ATHARVAVEDA 9.3: Removal of the structure that has been presented to a priest as sacrificial reward. We loosen the fastenings of the props, the supports, and the connections of the house (śālā) that abounds in treasures. (1) O (house) rich in all treasures, the fetter and the knot which has been fastened upon you, that with my word do I undo, as Brihaspati (undid) Bala. (2) (The builder) stretched, combined and made your joints firm. With Indra we undo these parts as the butcher separates the joints. (3) From your beams, ties and bindings, and your thatch; from your wings, (O house) abounding in treasures, we unfasten the joints. (4) The fastenings of the dove-tailed (joints), of the reed (-covering), of the framework, we loosen here from the Lady House. (5) The hanging vessels within which were set up for enjoyment we loosen from you. Be propitious to us, O Lady House, when you are again set up. (6) You are an oblation-holder, a fire-altar room, seat for the ladies, seat for the devās, O Lady House. (7) Your covering of thousand-holed net, stretched out upon your crown, fastened down and put on, we loosen with (this) mantra. (8) He who receives you as gift, O house, and he by whom you were built, both these, O Lady House, shall attain old age. (9) http://www.cs.okstate.edu/~subhashk/EarlyArchitecture.pdf
